RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with French warplanes in a combined operation on an underground arms cache in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), per a report from the UK's MoD.
The site, pinpointed through reconnaissance, was thought to be storing arms and explosives, the announcement noted, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.
"Our aircraft used laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a number of entry passages providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the MoD said.
There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack conducted Saturday night and all the aircraft returned to base without incident, the MoD added.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
The Islamic State group - also known as the so-called Islamic State - established extremist governance over significant areas in Iraq and Syria prior to its 2019 collapse.
"This strike underscores British leadership, and resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, to eradicate any re-emergence of Daesh and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region," Britain's Defence Chief the minister stated.
UK warplanes have carried out surveillance missions over Syrian airspace to "prevent any attempted comeback" of the group following its defeat at the battle of Baghuz in the year 2019, the ministry said.
"I want to thank all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this operation for their professionalism and their courage," he commented. "Including them were numerous UK service members stationed over Christmas and New Year. This operation, to remove terrorist threats who pose a risk to our safety, highlights how British military are prepared to act, continuously, keeping Britain secure at home and influential overseas."
Last December, the United States armed forces executed what it called a "major assault" targeting Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an ambush claimed the lives of two American soldiers and a civilian linguist in Palmyra.
The U.N. reports Daesh still maintains roughly 5-7 thousand fighters in both countries.
